How to Understand Dog Drives

Every dog has three basic drives: prey, pack and defense. Prey drive is your dog's desire to chase and hunt. Your dog's pack drive is his desire to work with other dogs or the owner. The dog's defense drive is a little more complex than the other two drives. Defense drive is the dog's fight and flight drive. The dog's temperament will determine whether the dog will go into fight or flight drive.

Prey drive is the drive your dog will go into when chasing a ball or hunting. Prey drive is the drive you want your dog in when you are calling your dog to come. You can get your dog to go into prey drive by squatting down or laying down on the ground. When you call your dog to you and you stand up straight or lean forward you are giving your dog the wrong signal.

By squatting down or running away from your dog, your dog's prey drive is triggered and she will run towards you. Also, a higher pitch in your voice will trigger your dog's prey drive. Calling your dog in a high pitched voice will get your dog to you.

Pack drive is the drive you want your dog in when you are walking with your dog. You can put your dog into pack drive when you are standing up straight and talking to your dog in an even-toned voice.

Putting a dog into defense drive can be dangerous. Leaning over a dog, yelling or using a stern tone of voice can put a dog into defense drive. A dog with a strong fight drive can bite if any of the above happen. A dog with a strong flight drive will also bite if they are yelled at or if someone leans in too close.

Defense drive is used to train a dog for protection. It can also be used for commands such as stay or distractions.

To sum it up: Leaning back, squatting down, or lying down and a high-pitched tone of voice will trigger your dog's prey drive, which is good for recalls.

Standing up straight and using an even-toned voice will put your dog into pack drive, which works out well for leash walking.

Leaning forward and using a stern tone of voice will put your dog into defense drive. Your dog could go into fight or flight drive, which is good for protection work, stay and distractions.